Rail-joint.



No. 707,966. Patented Aug. 26, |902-,-

G..- Gannon.

RAIL JOINT.. (Appucayion med Alm so, 1962..

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 707,966. Patented Aug. 26, 1902.

' G. GORDON.

RAIL JOINT.

(Application led Apr. 30, 1902.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

VUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE GORDON, OE LUTHER, MIOIIIGAN,.AssIGNOEOE ONE-FOURTH To THOMAS P. MAGEANE, O E OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS.

l RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming par'tf vLetters. Patent ne. 707,966, dated August 2e,y 1902.

Application filed April 30, 1902.

.To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE GORDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Luther,in the county of Lake and State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact d escription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertain's Io to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in rail-joints, and has for its primary obj ect means for supporting and securing theends of the rails in such manneras will effectually prevent the ends from being displaced one from the other.

A further object of theinvention is to provide means for securely fastening the ends of rails in a manner that will make the joints as zo durable as the body thereof, in combination with means for locking the nuts in'such manner as will prevent their being released by the jolting of the cars. A

This invention also comprehends improvements in rail-joints of the type where a plate is interposed between the ties and the ends of the rails are squarely seated thereon and the joints being bolted to the rails, thesaid bedplate, and the cross-ties.

Many other advantages and objects will be hereinafter referred to, and be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this speciication, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved rail-joint, showing its application. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line X X of Fig. v2. Fig. 4 isa vertical section on the line Y Y of Fig. 2. Fig.` 5 is a perspective view of the 4o parts separated. Fig. 6 is across-sectional view illustrating a modification of my invention. Fig. 7isa perspective View of the same, showing the parts separated.

The numeral 1 indicates the usual crossties, Ybetween two Of which are secured by bolts or otherwise myimproved rail-joint 3. The rail-joint comprises a bed-plate 4, two side plates 5 and 6, each of which is composed of a vertical member 7,and base 8,the latter con- 5o forming tothe configuration of the rails to make a tight and at the same time neat fit.

Serial No. 105,353. (No model.) l*

the nuts being secured `on the upper ends of ,the bolts that they may be readily locked against rotation by my improved locking device 12. The lock 12 consists of a slide Work- 6o ingin guides 13-`and is reduced at 13a, said end 13@ resting ina spring-pressed seat 14 at the opposite end, andit is further provided with a projection 15,' whereby it may be readily withdrawn when so desired, and to further insure the locking of the nuts the slide works in a depression 16. It will therefore be obviousthat when the nuts are supplied, as clearly disclosed in the drawings, along each side of the slide when the latter is posi- 7o tioned the nuts are effectually looked against rotation by the jolting of the cars or anyother means, and to release the same it would be necessary to withdrawthe slide. To further insurethe holding of the lock l2 one of the 75 spikes, as at 26a, employed to fasten thebedplate to the ties, is located in front oftheprojection 15. The other side plate 6 is identical with its companion member in all respects except that the vertical member 7 is provided 8o with Hanges 17 at its ends to receive a device 18 to lock the nuts 19 of the bolts' 20, which secure the side plates and rails together. This locking device is adapted to slide in the Ways 17 andl is provided with notches 2l, corre- 85 sponding in number to the nuts 10, so that k when the latter is adjusted the device 18 is forced down into the ways and absolutely prevents the rotation of said nuts. v In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 9o and 7 the bed-plate 23 and side plate 6 are made in one instead of two pieces as disclosed in the preferred form. This construction enables me to dispense with an individual locking device for the bolts used to lock the bedplate and side plate together, and at the same time it affords a structure of such a character that an ordinary sh-plate may be used in combination therewith; but to allow the ends of the rails to rest squarely on the roo bed-plate23 and the cross-ties the ends of the side plate 24, which rest in the ties, are

provided with seats 25,hence makinga smooth and uninterrupted surface between the ties and bed-plate, which prevents displacement of the ends of the rail.

The parts thus arranged, the operation is substantially as follows: The side plates 5 and 6 having been bolted to the bed-plate and the nuts locked in position by the locking-slide, the ends of the rails are passed between the vertical members Zand bolted by the bolts 20, and the locking device 18 is accordingly adjusted. The side plates are now spiked to the ties in the usual manner, the spikes engaging notches 2G, thereby gripping and holding the rail in such manner that side play or loosening of the parts is prevented. It will therefore be seen that with ajoint constructed and arranged as herein set forth I provide a means for holding the ends of the rail uniformly and in such manner that under no circumstances can one end be depressed more than the other, and by reason of the bed-plate fitting to a nicety the space intermediate the ties 1 the upper surface thereof is on a plane with the upper surface of said ties.

In rail-joints now in use considerable difficulty has been experienced in the dropping of one rail by the Wearing of the openings through which the bolts pass,causing a pounding and disagreeable noise, and in time necessitates not only the replacing ofthe plates, but not infrequently the rail; but this objectionable feature I have successfully overcome.

The invention possesses many decided advantages over the prior state of the art, and

it is thought that the construction and merits of the same will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a rail-joint, the combination with a pair of cross-ties, of side plates secured to said ties, a bed-plate intermediate the ties, seats formed on the bed-plate to rest on the ties, adjoining rails resting on the ties and the bed-plate, and bolts securing the rails and the side plates together, substantially as described.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with a pair of side plates, each plate having a depression, Ways and a spring-seat, a bed-plate, bolts securing the side plates and the bedplate together, a device for locking the nuts of the bolts against rotation, said device comprising a slide seated in the depression, guided therein by Ways and held by the spring-seat, substantially as described.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination with a pair of side plates, each plate having ways and a spring-seat, a bed-plate, nutted bolts securing the side plates and the bed-plate together, a device for locking the nuts of the bolt against rotation, said device comprising a slide guided by the ways and held by the spring-seat, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE GORDON.

Witnesses:

CLARA NIcHosoN, EARL FAIRBANKS. 

